Paulette,
You are right. They are such powerful tools to develop connections. There so easy to create and management and that has made all the difference in the world.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
When using the technology tools in a virtual company the three most important things for me are:
1) Ease of navigation.
2) Reliability
3) Relevance to the course material
I think that selecting online tools should be done using the following factors:
1) Which tools fit the course, the instructor and the students?
2) What tools provide the type of evaluation that is necessary for the course.
3) Finally, which tools are the most user-friendly. Not all instructors and/or students are techno-savvy.
Ken
Dr. Kelly,
I am amazed at how far classroom collaboration tools have come. I attended online classes towards the completion of my terminal degree and I paid less attention to the tools of engagement than I did towards completing my program and getting out. I did so with whatever it took.
I realize that the students I teach might not have that strict a focus; therefore I must keep them engaged and propel them to completion through encouragement. Virtual classroom tools will assist me in this endeavor.
Paulette
Paulette,
You have some real challenges/opportunities on your hands! You also have to find a way to engage students to be responsible active learners to perform the hands on tasks that you require. Quoting the famous "Bob the Builder" "Can we do it? Yes we can!" :)
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Khaled,
You add an interesting point, integration. You do hope the technology complement each other but that doesn't always happen. Great post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Sarah,
Interesting comment! Great insight into the needs of a student balanced with the needs of learning along with workload.
If a tool is too hard for faculty to use or get information from.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Michelle,
Students can be so frustrated with tools that teach them nothing but be weary of different technology. We as instructors and decision makers regarding technology must be aware of that.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Michelle,
I think you make a great point about reliability. We overlook that concept often we just want a tool to do the job.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Paulette,
Great point. You need to have the correct tools in your tool box to create the learning environment you need to for your students. User friendliness should be a given; I am continually surprised when software is pitched and it isn't.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Stephanie,
I agree but we can lower expectations based on their age. It concerns me that we may not expect them to "rise" to the occasion to to be a lifelong learner.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Stephanie,
You make a great point. Students should feel that the LMS is an important part of the learning and it is the "go to" area for the information. It should be easy for the instructor to add and augment information there.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hello Kelly,
The three most important factors are:
(1) How effective is the tool in achieving the course objectives
(2) How easy is the tool can be used by the student.
(3) Can the tool be integrated with other tools?
Khaled Elleithy
Dr. Kelly,
Thank you for your response. You are right. Selecting the right type of tool for the right learning outcome is a skill itself.
We need to consider our teaching philosophy and the learning styles of our students who are from diverse backgrounds. I am fortunate in that I have taught classes extensively on ground. I now have the opportunity to teach one of the same classes online.
It is a hands-on class - similar to a lab so I know that I need to demonstrate a few of the tasks in order to keep some students engaged and avoid frustration.
Dr. Paulette Stephens
Paulette,
You are right. We have to competent in our technology use. We don't have to experts in technology but we do need to learn how to use if for the best learning environment for our students. We have to make choice to use the right tool for the right type of learning. That is where we must be the experts.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Janet,
Great post. Yes, the LMS must be easy to use by both the instructor and student. It can become a barrier for the students. Also, the instructor will never learn to use the LMS to its fullest extent for the engagement of students. They are definitely linked.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Most important are the needs of my students. What do I know about how they learn and what they enjoy? What, in my experience has not worked and why?
Next, what tools work best for the content that student must learn? When I teach composition, multiple choice quizzes and cute activities like crossword puzzles are not enough. Students need k and practice in actually composing, receiving feedback and revising.
Third, I consider my own teaching style and comfort level. What tools do I enjoy using? Should I try something new? What feedback have I received from past students and colleagues that I might incorporate in a new session?
Chrissy,
I agree with your statement because more is not always better! I have worked with a few systems that become overwhelming and leave the students and staff feeling discouraged. The ultimate goal is to enhance learning and resources must be present to help reach that goal!
Virtual technology is a great addition to the online environment; however, there are a few challenges that cannot be ignored.
When choosing which tools to use I believe the three most important things to be considered are:
- Ability to enhance learning and meet course objectives
- Reliability and effectiveness of the program (is the system always down, are multiple upgrades always needed)
- Student and teacher friendliness (is the software so difficult that it takes away from the learning?)
Ultimately what ever is added to the classroom should provide value. The overarching question is, "does this technology enhance the learning process"?
As instructors at AIUOnline the use of technology is one of the competencies we must develop and we have an opportunity to be present in the classroom through the use of technology. The three most important things to consider are:
1. Using the Virtual Classroom with Adobe Connect to organize content and present information to students in a manner that catches their attention.
2. Choosing the tools that will most aid in achieving the specified outcome. For instance, I might need to use a screen capture in my database system design class to demonstrate the installation of database software for the assignment if students do not fully grasp the concept and are unable to complete the task using installation guide.
3.The tool should not require a learning curve for students and it should be user friendly.
Paulette
